The Wizard Magic Cards is an incredible magic pack that will make you look like a master magician in no time at all.
These very special cards appear normal and can be handed out for examination, but they contain a very clever and subtle secret. The cards are not cut straight. The entire pack is tapered at one end.
The Wizard Principle
If one card is turned end-for-end and placed into the pack, it can be easily located because its thick end will protrude slightly from the thin end of the pack.
This reversed card is hard to see, but do not worry. In nearly every trick you do not have to look for the reversed card. You actually feel for it! This is called ‘stripping’ and will be explained later.
The ‘Start’ Position
Unless otherwise stated, at the start of each trick you should make sure that all the cards are the same way round. This means all the thin ends at one end and all the thick ends at the other. Hold the pack in your left hand with all the thick ends of the cards away from you. This is the ‘start’ position.
Having a Card Selected
The most common theme in card magic is that of a card selected by a volunteer being magically located by a magician. There are many ways of having a card selected by a spectator, but the simplest is to spread the cards face-down and say, “Take a card!”
The Ribbon Spread
A more elegant way of having a card selected is to spread the cards face-down in a line on the table. Hold the cards face-down in your right hand with your index finger pressing on the back of the pack and your thumb and remaining fingers holding the short edges. Gently press the pack to the table and drag the cards to the right, creating a neat spread of cards. You can now allow a spectator to select one.
By increasing or decreasing the pressure applied to the pack, you can vary the size of the spread.
Reversing the Chosen Card
Once the card has been selected, you will need to have it reversed before it is returned to the pack. To do this, turn the pack end-for-end while the spectator looks at the selected card.
No one should notice you turning the pack, so don’t draw attention to yourself by trying to be ‘sneaky’.
‘Stripping’ the Cards
Once a card has been chosen and returned to the pack, it is now up to you to ‘magically’ locate the card. Hold the pack in the ‘start’ position. With the right index finger and thumb, gently grip the bottom of the pack along the edge.
Pull your right index finger and thumb downward and the reversed card will ‘strip’ out of the pack. Casually place it on top of the pack.
This may be tricky at first, but in no time at all you will be able to ‘strip’ one or more reversed cards every time.
Shuffling the Wizard Magic Cards
Every card in the pack should be the same way round (i.e. all the thin ends at one end). Therefore it is essential when shuffling the pack that the cards are not accidentally turned end-for-end.
Fortunately, most legitimate shuffles do not turn cards end-for-end. If you simply perform a normal overhand shuffle, the tapering of the cards will not be mixed up.
A Basic Wizard Routine
Display the cards to your audience and explain that you are about to perform a ‘classic of magic’. Ribbon Spread the cards face-down on the table, then have a spectator select one and remember it.
As the spectator looks at the chosen card, secretly turn the pack end-for-end and then spread it face-down again.
Have the card returned to the spread and give the pack a quick shuffle. Square up the cards and secretly ‘strip’ out the reversed (chosen) card. Place it face-down on top of the pack. Make a magical gesture over the pack and then dramatically turn over the top card to reveal the chosen card!